We Want You, You Want Us? Determinants and Regional Impact of International Students in South Korea

• In Event: International Mobility and Policy Dilemmas: New Insights from Asia and the Americas

Abstract

International student mobility is increasingly recognized as an important policy issue with broad effects that go beyond higher education. It contributes to economic growth through student spending, job creation, and regional development, while also enhancing innovation and supporting the financial stability of universities. Importantly, the movement of international students also intersects with broader migration patterns and demographic challenges, as student inflows can support population sustainability and serve as a potential pathway for longer-term migration and labor market integration, especially in aging societies like South Korea.
As the United States has adopted more restrictive visa policies since the Trump administration, countries like South Korea now face a strategic opportunity to attract global talent. In 2024, South Korea hosted more than 180,000 international students, with numbers continuing to rise due to programs such as the Study Korea 300K Project and increasing demand from nearby countries. 

Against this backdrop, we empirically investigate (1) how geographic, economic, and sociocultural linkages—such as physical proximity to Korea, exchange rates, Korean Wave influence, cultural distance, and policy orientation toward immigration and employment—shape the inflow of international students to South Korea, and (2) whether and how their presence contributes to regional economic growth and demographic stability, using indicators such as foreign labor presence and local enrollment levels. Using data on foreign students enrolled in higher education institutions in Korea from the Korea Education Development Institute (KEDI) and multiple resources from the World Bank and UNESCO, we employ panel regression models with random effects to capture both cross-sectional and temporal dynamics across South Korean regions and source countries.

We present a comprehensive framework that examines both the factors that influence student inflows and their economic and demographic effects at the regional level. From a policy perspective, our findings aim to support the development of international education strategies in Korea by addressing population and migration issues related to regional balance, labor force diversity, and long-term population stability.

Author

• Sungyeop Kim, University at Albany
  Presenting Author